Statues: Preserve monuments to Union heroes

Re: “Too many statues in D.C., and not just elected ones,” (TNT, 5/27).

Seldom do I disagree with columnist Garrison Keillor, but I take issue with him regarding the removal of Civil War statuary: specifically George Thomas, one of the Union’s best generals who annihilated Hood’s Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Nashville.

My great grandfather was a 16-year-old trooper in the 2nd Iowa Cavalry in December 1864 when he charged through the Confederate lines under the command of Thomas and destroyed the South’s ability to ever invade the Union again.

Thomas was from a slave-owning Southern family but remained loyal to his country. As did my great grandfather, he chose to fight to preserve the Union and destroy the evil of slavery that the Confederate states stood for.

The statues of traitors should be removed, but those of heroes like Thomas should be used to educate Americans as to what was accomplished not only by generals, but by an Iowa farm boy who put his life on the line for a noble cause.

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Statues: Preserve monuments to Union heroes."